She received this honor because she is the mother of four sons who are serving a total of 18 life sentences in Israeli prisons. They all killed Israeli civilians in terror attacks.

The Minister also "praised the Abu Hmeid family as a model of willpower and of the struggle for the independence of Palestine" when he visited the family with a ministry delegation, human rights organizations and released prisoners, the official PA daily newspaper reported.

Minister Karake also chose this week to visit the home of the suicide terrorist Ayyat Al-Akhras who in 2002 entered a Jerusalem supermarket and detonated a bomb murdering two Israelis and killing herself. The minister's visit took place on the occasion of the Palestinian "National Day for Returning the Bodies of Palestinian and Arab Shahids and MIA's."

The mother who received the award for having four terrorist sons was described as "Khansa of Palestine," which is a reference to Al-Khansa, a woman from the earliest period of Islam who sent her four sons to battle and rejoiced when they all died as Martyrs. Calling the Palestinian mother by this name reinforces the message that seeking death as a Martyr is a worthy and honorable goal and that parents should proudly sacrifice their children.

The following is an excerpt from the article about the PA Minister awarding the mother "the Plaque of Resoluteness and Giving" in the official PA paper:

"Issa Karake, Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, awarded the Plaque of Resoluteness and Giving to Khansa of Palestine [reference to a woman in the earliest period of Islam who sent her four sons to battle and rejoiced when they all died as Martyrs], Um Yousuf Abu Hmeid, inscribed with the names of her four sons who are imprisoned in the Israeli occupation's prisons. He emphasized, 'The Palestinian mother is a central partner in the struggle, by virtue of what she has given and continues to give. It is she who gave birth to the fighters, and she deserves that we bow to her in salute and in honor.'
This [was said] during a visit yesterday by [Minister] Karake and a delegation from the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs, human rights organizations, and released prisoners, to the home of the Abu Hmeid family in the Al-Am'ari refugee camp. [Karake] joined the meal breaking the [Ramadan] fast with the mother of the four prisoners who were sentenced to several life terms, as well as a fifth Shahid (Martyr) who was caught and executed on the spot by the Israeli special forces, having killed an Israeli intelligence officer and having wounded soldiers. Karake praised the Abu Hmeid family as a model of willpower and of the struggle for the independence of Palestine... It should be noted that the Abu Hmeid family is one of the fighting families of Palestine... All of the family's younger generation have been arrested, and four sons are still in prison: Nasser Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hmeid, sentenced to seven life terms and another 50 years; Nasr Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hmeid, sentenced to five life terms; Sharif Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hmeid, sentenced to four life terms; and Muhammad Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hmeid, sentenced to two life terms and 30 years. This is in addition to their Martyr brother, Abd Al-Mun'im Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hmeid, who died as a Martyr on May 31st, 1994."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 28, 2010]

The following is the report on PA Minister Karake's visit to the suicide terrorist's home:

"Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake... visited the home of the Palestinian Shahida (Martyr) Ayyat Muhammad Lutfi Al-Akhras, who died a Martyrs' death on March 29th, 2004 [the correct date was March 29, 2002 when Ayyat Al-Akhras carried out a suicide terror attack in a Jerusalem supermarket, killing two Israelis, -Ed.], in the Dehaishe refugee camp. Her body is still being held in the numbered military cemetery [reference to Israeli cemetery for enemy casualties, -Ed.] within '48 occupied land. Karake's visit marked the National Day for Returning the Bodies of Palestinian and Arab Shahids and MIA's... He [Karake] condemned the Israeli policy of punishing the dead along with the living, contrary to international agreements...
He said that 317 Shahids are still prisoners in the so-called numbered cemeteries and in cemeteries, lacking the minimum moral, religious and humanitarian foundations. Karake added that Israel is the only country in the world which imposes punishments on dead bodies and holds them, nameless, in cemeteries which are vulnerable to erosion in winter and to the gnawing of wild animals. Karake said that hiding the bodies of the Shahids is part of the Israeli government's evasion of responsibility and concealment of war crimes which were carried out against the Shahids, whether by field executions, abuse of their bodies, and trade or theft of their organs."